The Effect of Variable-Length Fins and Different High Thermal Conductivity Nanoparticles in the Performance of the Energy Storage Unit Containing Bio-Based Phase Change Substance

Mohammad Ghalambaz, Seyed Abdollah Mansouri Mehryan, Masoud Mozaffari, Obai Younis and Aritra Ghosh
Additional contact information
Mohammad Ghalambaz: Metamaterials for Mechanical, Biomechanical and Multiphysical Applications Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 758307, Vietnam
Seyed Abdollah Mansouri Mehryan: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj 7591493686, Iran
Masoud Mozaffari: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad 85141-43131, Iran
Obai Younis: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering at Wadi Addwaser, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Wadi Addwaser 11991, Saudi Arabia
Aritra Ghosh: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is a key feature in the sizing of thermal systems and energy management. The Phase Change Material (PCM) can store a huge amount of heat in the form of latent heat. However, a good design of the TES unit is required to absorb thermal energy and charge quickly. In the present study, a combination of optimum fin design and nanoadditives are used to design a shell and tube shape TES unit. The Taguchi optimization method is employed to maximize the melting rate by optimizing the arrangement shape of fins and the type and the volume fractions of nanoparticles. The results showed that long fins should be mounted at the bottom and short fins at the top, so that the PCM melts down at the bottom quickly, and consequently, a natural convection circulation occurs at the bottom and advances in the solid PCM. The short fins at the top allow a good natural convection circulation at the top. An increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases the melting rate. An optimum design shows a 20% more melting rate compared to a poor design.

Keywords: thermal energy storage (TES); melting heat transfer; fin arrangement; optimum design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2884/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2884/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2884-:d:512304

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().